Trafford Centre, Manchester

The Trafford Centre, one of the eight largest shopping centres in the UK, is home to 230 stores and 55 restaurants, cafes and bars.

It is visited by approximately 600,000 customers per week who travel from all over the UK and beyond. In May 2005 the Trafford Centre opened a Changing Places toilet in response to feedback received from disabled customers and local disability organisations.

The key features of the Changing Places toilet at the Trafford Centre are:

Adult-sized height adjustable changing bench
Ceiling track hoist
Plenty of space for the disabled person and two carers.
It also provides a Closomat toilet, moveable sink and emergency alarm.

The Trafford centre attracts many disabled customers, and the provision of a Changing Places toilet means that this now includes those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as their families.

The toilet is located in the Orient food court and is part of the central toilet block, making it perfectly placed for families to enjoy a leisurely lunch as part of their day out.

The toilet in use

The Changing Places toilet is in regular use and customers often take the time to thank staff for providing the facility.

Elaine from Lancashire, whose 21-year-old daughter has profound and multiple learning disabilities and regularly uses the Changing Places toilet at the Trafford Centre was delighted when the facility was installed.

As she explains:

"We try very hard to include our daughter as much as possible and do not go very far without her. As she is now quite heavy, changing her on a toilet floor has become quite impossible, not to mention uncomfortable and distressing, so she usually ends up sitting in a wet pad.The only Changing Places toilet in our area is at the Trafford Centre in Manchester. When we go there it's a different story!"

The Changing Places toilet was funded as part of on-going building works.